Diet and nutrition counseling play important roles in the treatment of diabetes. Following a balanced eating plan can help prevent short-term and long-term complications of the disease.

The HCF (high carbohydrate, high fiber) diet may help many patients with diabetes control their glucose (blood sugar) levels, body weight and cholesterol. This nutritional plan diet limits intake of fats and replaces those calories with complex carbohydrates including high amounts of plant fiber.

Fiber helps regulate digestion. It comes in two forms: soluble, which helps slow the absorption of food, and insoluble, which helps keep the colon clean). One or both types of fiber are found in many plant-based foods. Fiber is not found in foods that come from animals.

The fiber in the HCF diet functions in several ways to help reduce complications of diabetes. It slows digestion and the release of glucose into the blood, which helps prevent hyperglycemia. Slowing digestion also contributes to a longer feeling of fullness (satiety), reducing the desire to eat more. This can be helpful for patients with type 2 diabetes who are trying to lose weight. In the intestines, fiber also absorbs bile, which would otherwise be absorbed into the bloodstream and converted in part to cholesterol.

The HCF diet is not recommended for everyone. As with anyone considering a change in diet, patients with diabetes should first consult their physician.